Razor type hair shaper



Nov. 12, 1968 R. J. BEVERLY 3,409,981

RAZOR TYPHAIR SHAFER Filed Jan. 19, 1967 l 2 Sheets-Sheet'l f /////lllll//////////////fl Rhein/ardf .1 Beverly IN VENTOR.

BY I I R. J. BEVERLY RAZOR TYPE HAIR SHAPER Nov. 12, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet z Filed Jan. 19, 1967 Fig 6 u m V P. .B J w w n m m R m m E V m United States Patent O 3,409,981 RAZOR TYPE HAIR SHAPER Rleinhardt J. Beverly, Tucson, Ariz. (1932 11th Ave. E, Bradenton, Fla. 33505) Filed Jan. 19, 1967, Ser. No. 610,268 3'Claims. (Cl. 30-30) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Manually usable to shape hair implement comprises: an old style" razor blade, more particularly, one which is fricton-held in a holder having a finger-grippable manipulable shank. A removable blade guard on the holder has comb-like teeth projecting beyond blade`s cutting edge. A pivoted Swing-type but weighted handle sheathes the razor blade when folded. Chief improvement: An easy-to-handle finger-grip on the shank.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to novel, useful, and signficantly practical improvements in an old style" razor-type hair shaper which has been found to be feasible and acceptable for trirnming, thinning, contouring and finishing men's and women's hair, usually by a barber or a hair stylist.

The state of the art is exemplified by the hair trimmer dsclosed in the patent to Tape 3,l06,020 which is structurally and functionally similar to the well-known Week straight razor hair shaper comprising a channel-shaped holder provided at an inward end with a shank which is similar in shape and purpose to a conventional barber s straight razor. The limbs of an elongate U-shaped memberwhich serves as a handle as well as a protective sheath-are pivoted to a median portion of the shank. When folded the limbs encompass and protect a stainless steel razor blade which is retentively but removably keyed in the channel-shaped holder. The holder is equipped with a slidingly mounted friction-held blade guard which, as usual, has comb-like teeth projecting beyond the cutting edge of the razor blade. As revealed in the Tape patent, all of the stated features are old and well known.

SUMMARY The herein dsclosed invention features improvements which better solve themaner of more proficient use of the mplement. Briefly, one improvement pertains to a novelly v constructed clip which is unique in that it is mounted on the aforementioned shank and provides readily accessible upstanding flanges or grips, one for the thumb and the other one for the index finger. This clip is oriented to coordinate with the handle, shank and razor so that the user is assured of handling balance and control at all times. The handle is novel in that the free swingable end is provided with a counterbalancing weight which greatly assists in (l) swinging the handle away from the razor to an open position and (2) flipping and returning the handle to its folded or blade-sheathing position--by a twist of the wrist--when desired.

An object of the over-all concept has to do with certain new and useful improvements on a razor-type hair shaper such as is used in barber shops and elsewhere for cutting women's and men's hair and customarily referred to as a razor cut. The elongated U-shaped handle or sheath on the commonly employed shaper has an undesirable friction-type pivotal connection.

In carrying out the improved adaptation the pivot point is free-swinging to impart a desired pendulous action to the handle. It follows that when the razor is held upright by the improved finger-grip means the handle will fall open and can be held open with the remaining three fingers of the hand as a strand or more of hair is being cut. Then, by holding the razor with the thumb and forefinger, that s, graspng the mproved finger-grip on the shank and using the weighted handle as a pendulum, a twist of the" wrist will cause the razor handle to swing shut.

I t follows 'that one improvement has to do with a weighted pendulous free-pivoted sheath-type handle and the mproved finger-grip on the intermediate portion of the shank whether the grip be in the form of an attached clip or made an integral part of the shank at the manufacture of the blade holder.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of Construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which&

FIG. 1 is a view showing the improved razor-type hair shaper with attached blade guard, the improved fingergrip, and improved handle and with the handle in a depending open hand-held position.

FIG. 2 is a view also in elevation and similar to FIG. 1 and showing the handle in an angular depending position in phantom lines and also in full lines and which is intended to show how the weighted end of the sheath-like handle enables the -barber or other user to readily flip' the handle to its normally closed blade sheathing position.

FIG. 3 is a view on an enlarged scale with the component parts in section and elevation showing all of the parts of the improved razor-type hair shaper, the handle being closed.

FIG. 4 is a section on the plane of the vertical line 4--4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 s a View in perspective of the clip which when attached to the shank of the razor provides the desired grip for the thumb and index finger.

FIG. 6 is a View in perspective of the readily attachable counterweight.

FIG. 7 is a View of a modification in side elevation and similar to FIG. 3 but with the guard removed and showing an integral or built-in finger-grip.

FIG. 8 is a section taken on the plane of the section line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS By way of introduction to the views of the drawing it is to be explained that it is within the purview of the inventive concept to provide finger-gripping means in the form of a clip which is capable of being attached to the shank of currently marketed Week shapers. Also, it is within the scope of the inventior to construct the razor holder with the finger-gripping means which is integral or built-in at the time of manufacture (FIGS. 7 and 8). Accordingly, FIGS 1 to 6 may be construed as showing one embodiment and FIGS. 7 and 8 ,a second embodiment.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 6 nclusive and particularly to FIG. 3 the Component part herein referred to as the holder is denoted generally by the numeral 10 and embodies the usual elongated channel-shaped receiver and retainer 12 'which is open at an outer end for reception and retention of the back of .a rigid insertable and removable razor blade 14. The right hand or inner end portion of the holder is fashioned into the usual shank 16 having a curvate terminal end portion 18. A block-like insert is fitted and Secured in the channel of the shank as denoted at 20 in FIG. 4 and this portion of the shank is provided with .a suitable curved notch which exposes a. correspondingly and arcuately curved anti-slipping surface 22. This anti-slipping notch portion serves in regular use to accommodate either the thumb or one of the fingers of the user`s time of hand.. Experience has shown that inasmuch as the barber or other user of the implement has to employ the same in horizontal, vertical and various intermediate angular positions his grip on the shank has been found to be insecure and unreliable, particularly when the customer's hair is coarse and tough and not easily cut and trimrned. It is therefore an objective as stated to assist in solving this problem by the provision on the shank of a more Satisfactory finger-gripping device or means which is denoted generally by the numeral 24. However, and before continuing with a discussion of this means it is to be pointed out .that it is customary but not necessarily essential that the holder 10 and razor blade 14 be provided with an openwork readily attachable and detachable friction-held guard26. This is also a well-known type of guard which has a portion 28 which slidingly mounts the guard on the holder in a manner that the comb-lke teeth 30 project beyond the cutting edge 32 of the blade as shown in FIG. 3. It 'will be evident that the detailed description thus far reveals that the shank-equipped holder 10, rigd razor blade 14 and guard means 26 is old and well-known and one' improvement therefore pertains to the finger-gripping means 24. Specifically, this means comprises a stainless steel or an equivalent metal or otherwise suitable clip which is characterized by ,a channel-shaped clasp 34 which is aligned with and fitted over the notched portion 22 of the shank, that is, the median portion of the shank 16 in the manner shown in FIG. 3. A pair of spaced parallel upstanding flanges 36 project above the shank and are shaped .and of a size to permit them to be grasped by the thumb and index finger in the manner suggested in FIG. l. The flanges 36 are provided with rigdifying returnbent-portions 38. The main idea however is to provide a clasp 34 which embraces and securely grips the notched portion 22 of the shank and projects the flanges 36 to an accessible easy-to-grasp position.

It is within the purview of the concept as already suggested to dispense where necessary with the guard 26 and instead of providing a clip-on grip, to use an integral or built-in grip. Attention is therefore directed to FIG. 7 in particular wherein the blade holder 40 is provided with an elongated channel-shaped receiver and retainer 42 for the rigid back (not detailed) of the insertable and removable razor blade 44. In this form of the invention the shank is denoted at 46 and the arcuate terminal portion at 48 at the right in FIG. 7. The =finger notch 50 and anti-slippirg insert or block 52 are optional features. The main achievement is in providing the median notched portion of the shank 46 with an integral hollow riser 54 which constitutes finger-*gripping means and which embodies side walls or flanges 56 connected by a marginal web 8. Thus, the finger-grip may be in the form of (1) an attachment or clip 24 or (2) an integral part 54 of the holder.

In both forms of the invention the handle or sheath is the same as is denoted by the numeral 60, It is basically the same as hair-shaper handles which are commonly in use in barber shops. This is to say, it is of elongated U- shaped form and embodies spaced legs or limbs 62 which are of 'a length commensurate with the over-all holder, the right hand or free end portions 64 straddling the shank and being loosely pivoted thereto as at 66. It is important to explain here that instead of a tight friction held pivot connection between the shank and end portions 64 the pivot pins provide a comparatively loose swinging connection, whereby the handle can readily Swing from the normal closed blade sheathing position for example in FIGS. 3 and 7 to the open position shown in FIG. 2. In any event the bight or web portion 68 at the left is here provided with a readily attachable weight 70 of requisite heaviness, said weight having attaching tongues 72 at its ends which are bent and hooked in place over the web whereby to provide the desired weighted and pendulous action desired for the handle.

It is again stressed that the idea of attaching a lead or heavy metal weight to the end of the plastic or light metal sheath or razor handle is desirable-to provide the intended pendulum action. It is evident that the weight is fastened to that end of the handle which is remote from the pivot point 66. Also the thickness of the metal of the finger-grip means in FIG. 3 for example, serves as a guide when it goes into the handle between the limbs when the razor is being shut and keeps the ends of the razor blade from hitting the side of the 'handle upon closing; This Construction allows the razor guard to slide under the finger-grip and gives a longer and satisfactory choice of position for the operator's fingers, depending upon the size of the operator`s hand. I

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2 it will be seen that the finger-gripping means serves to accommodate the thumb and index finger and aifords the user of the i-mplement a more satisfactory and reliable grip whereby the razor is capable of being used in every conceivable position and at ever changing angles when trimming, contouring and shaping the customer's hair. The feature of the -pendulum action of the handle has .already been set forth. Accordingly, it is felt that it will be clear that a hair shaper razor with the added improvements herein disclosed well serves the purposes for which it is intended. A more extended description is deemed to be unnecessary.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. F urther, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A razor-type hair shaper comprisin-g, in combination, a straight razor blade, a holder for said blade embodying an outer end portion channel-shaped in crosssection and open at its outer terminal end for reception and retention of said blade, an elongated inner end portion and an intervening median portion conjointly defining a shank, said inner end portion having a longitudinally curved terminal end portion constituting a finger rest, said median portion having first and second longitudinal edges, said first longitudinal edge being provided with a thumb seating notch, that portion of the second longitudinal edge directly opposite and in alignment with said thumb notch being .provided with finger-gripping means, said finger-gripping means being elongated and of a length less than the length of the median portion and projecting laterally beyond 'said second longitudinal edge, an elongated U-shaped handle embodying a pair of spaced parallel limbs having free ends straddling and pivotally mounted on said inner end portion, said legs having correspondin-g outer ends joined by a web, and a weight, said weight being independent of said handle and abutting said web and having end portions provided with terminal lateral tongues, said tongues being bent, hooked in place over adjacent end portions of said web and serving to attach said weight to said web.

2. The structure defined in and according to claim 1 and wherein said finger-gripping and blade handling means is of hollow Construction and is integral with said second-named longitudinal edge and embodies spaced parallel flange-like members which individually accomrmodate the thumb and index finger, respectively, of the user when in use. i

3. The structure defined in and according to claim 1, said finger-grippng and blade-handling means eornprising a clip, said clip having a clasp portion embracing and in which the notched portion is saddled and retained, said clasp means being provided with a pair of spaced parallel flanges, said flanges projecting laterally beyond said second edge and providing individual grips, one grip adapted to accommoclate the user s thumb and the other grip being adapted to accommodate the user`s index finger, said flanges being elongated and of a length commensurate with the 'length of the a'forementioned thumb-seating notch.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Scharf.

Foley 30-90 Camden 30-53 X Hyde 30-90 Frye 30-53 McCain.

11/1920 Brandt 30-30 8/1932 Priori 30-55 12/ 1941 Monnet. 10/ 1945 Monnet 30-85 X 9/1962 Gore 30-30 FOREIGN PATENTS 12/ 1962 France.

2/ 1910 Great Britain.

10 MY RON C. KRUSE, Prmary Exam 'ner. 

